Critical regulation is coming for the new affordable rent system in Portugal: Maximum rents will be announced

The important regulation for the actual implementation of the new Regime Simplificado de Arrendamento Acessível, which came into force in Portugal on September 1, is expected to be published in the coming days.

With the new regulation, maximum rental prices that can be applied according to house type within the scope of RSAA will be determined.

The system provides homeowners with the opportunity to rent their homes long-term within determined price limits in return for tax advantages.

What is RSAA?

Regime Simplificado de Arrendamento Acessível is one of the new systems aimed at increasing the supply of affordable rental housing in Portugal.

The regime established by Decreto-Lei n.º 97/2026 entered into legal force as of September 1, 2026.

The system can be used by real estate companies, investment funds and public institutions as well as individual homeowners.

However, since the portaria, which determines the maximum rent limits, which is one of the basic parts of the system, has not been published yet, there is a missing element in the practical implementation of the regime.

Maximum rent will be determined according to the type of house

The expected regulation will determine the maximum rent limits that can be applied according to housing types such as T0, T1, T2, T3.

The Ministry of Housing announced that the regulation will be published "in the coming days".

Therefore, at this stage, the figures seen on social media or in advertisements should not be accepted as the definitive official rent ceiling for the new RSAA.

exact figures It will be announced with the regulation to be published in Diário da República.

Tax advantage for homeowners

The basic logic of the new system is to provide tax incentives for houses rented under conditions determined below the market price.

According to the statement of the Portal da Habitação, Decreto-Lei n.º 97/2026 constitutes both the RSAA and the Contratos de Investimento para Arrendamento system.

The aim is to encourage private capital to offer more housing to the long-term rental market.

What will change for the tenant?

The real kicker will come when the portaria is published.

Once the maximum rent limits are determined, it will be possible to calculate more clearly which houses can enter the program and how much the real advantage will be compared to market rents.

Especially in regions where market rents are high, such as Lisboa, Porto and the Algarve, the level at which the ceilings are set will determine how effective the system will be.

PTNewsHub will also prepare a separate table by city and house type when the numbers are officially published.

Resources

Portal da Habitação — Decreto-Lei n.º 97/2026 / Incentivos ao Arrendamento

https://www.portaldahabitacao.pt/

Idealista News — September 16, 2026

https://www.idealista.pt/news/imobiliario/habitacao/2026/09/16/77669-portaria-que-regulamenta-rendas-acessiveis-publicada-nos-proximos-dias

ECO — September 7 2026

https://eco.sapo.pt/2026/09/07/novo-regime-das-rendas-acessiveis-ainda-a-espera-de-portaria-para-arrancar/